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Toms River man stole boat batteries, cops say

A citizen sleuth helped police to capture Michael Campanalonga, who they allege went about burglarizing boats and stealing batteries in the township’s Silverton section. The unnamed citizen observed Campanalonga, 27, of Cedarhurst Drive, Toms River, acting suspiciously inside a boat at a marina near Bay Breeze Drive in the Silverton section on May 5, police said. Next to the boat was a car with its trunk open, police said.

Toms River man stole boat batteries, cops say

TOMS RIVER – A citizen sleuth helped police capture Michael Campanalonga, who has been charged with burglarizing boats and stealing batteries in the township’s Silverton section.

The citizen, who police did not identify, told of observing Campanalonga, 27, of Cedarhurst Drive, Toms River, acting suspiciously inside a boat at a marina near Bay Breeze Drive in the Silverton section on May 5, police said. Next to the boat was a car with its trunk open, police said.

The person took a photograph of the man and his vehicle with a cellphone and alerted police.

Detectives Tom DeMichele and Jon Turner, along with Officer Michael Gallipoli, were able to locate Campanalonga and identify him as the vehicle’s driver, according to a news release issued by Police Chief Mitchell A. Little. A search of the car uncovered several battery terminals, wires, nuts and battery labels, the release said.

Campanalonga was arrested and charged with nine counts each of burglary and theft. He is being held at the Ocean County Jail, unable to post $50,000 bail.

The arrest capped a two-month investigation into thefts of batteries from boats that were discovered by owners as they began their spring preparations, the news release said. All of the nine burglaries and thefts occurred in the Silverton section, near Campanalonga’s home, the news release said. The investigation revealed the batteries, which were each worth between $75 and $125, were sold to a local scrap yard for between $6 and $10 apiece, according to police spokesman Ralph Stocco.

With the warmer weather, at least four more thefts have been reported, and police are investigating whether Campanalonga was involved, Stocco said.

The investigation is continuing. Others who believe they were victimized should contact DiMichele at (732)349-0150, ext. 1333.